Heroes 1.5: "Hiros"

Written by Michael Green
Directed by Paul Shapiro

It felt like the pacing slowed a little bit in this episode, but in a good way. After everything that happened in the previous episode, the writers needed some time to deal with the consequences and continue this slow but steady process of bringing the heroes together. Along the way, there are some interesting revelations and hints regarding the future. All in all, the series has hit its stride!

Claire’s father is one complicated villain, and it’s still very unclear what his goals are. That’s not a negative; it’s one of the more compelling mysteries. His actions are part of the process, tying the characters together as surely as Isaac’s visions. Whatever his plans for the superhumans might be, he still acts like many fathers would like to act: lashing out at someone who tried to violate his little girl. The fact that he probably has his own plans for Claire adds a disturbing layer to it all.

Peter’s abilities, long suspected by some fans to be a mimicking power, take center stage, providing a neat and somewhat logical solution to Isaac’s problem. Having a visionary with a massive drug habit is hardly useful, so Peter should come in very handy. This ability could also be useful for defensive purposes, if they should fight someone like Syler with powerful telekinetic abilities. This doesn’t change the fact that Peter is still a boring character, but it does make him important to the plot.

In fact, many of the characters are discovering the extent of their powers in this episode. For every positive, there seems to be a negative. Niki’s inability to remember her activities when “possessed” by Dark Niki will likely be an issue, especially when it comes to defending her decisions and actions regarding Micah. Matt finds some positive applications for telepathy, but almost immediately, the negative aspects overwhelm him. In both cases, it’s a question of control.

That will be the most interesting aspect of the series this season: watching the characters gain confidence and control over these abilities, all while facing series threats to themselves and the world. They could help each other find that strength and focus, but it’s equally possible that some will be lured into working with the wrong people. The process is what makes the show worth watching.

With so much happening, some elements are bound to work better than others. Nathan’s political machinations may be important in the long run, but it’s a little hard to follow at this point. I’m also not sure about the subplot with Hiro’s friend and his obsession with Niki. She seemed a little too calm about the idea of someone from Japan coming to her house after seeing her strip on the internet. Contextually, she was worried about threats to Micah, and she had been badly used and mistreated in recent days. Her reaction just didn’t seem to fit the situation.

Overall, the good far outweighs the bad, and there’s plenty of time to iron out some of the rough spots. After all, the series is rapidly becoming appointment television for fans, and the ratings continue to grow. That means that the series is getting great word of mouth, and that should make a lot of comic book fans very happy. It would appear that the “Lost” formula can strike twice, if handled and promoted properly.

(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Current episodes cover “Heroes”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10